Hand-held dispenser with dual valve



March 3l, l197() w. R. ODONNELL 3,503,539

HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH DUAL VALVE Filed Feb. 21, 1968 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVI TUTOR.

March'l, 1970 w. R. O'DONNELL 3,503,539

`HND--UL'D DISPENSER WITH DUAL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1968 www 2. ODYQLL S/SY AGENT United States Patent O Int. Cl. B65d 2.3/14

U.S. Cl. 222--95 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser with dual valve and multiple compartments, comprising a tubular valve housing having two annular seats, and a valve stem longitudinally movable in the housing and having valve portions for simultaneously closing and opening the seats. The housing has a side passage, which may or may not be connected to a dip tube, and is at one end carried in the neck of a pressurized container in which there is also a flexible bag connected to the other housing end. Different liquids in the container and bag are mixed and discharged when the valve stern is shifted to open the valve seats.

Cross references to related applications (l) Copending application of William R. ODonnell entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve, Serial No. 692,757, filed Dec. 22, 1967.

Related prior art (1) U.S. Patent No. 3,217,936.

(2) U.S. Patent No. 3,272,389.

(3) U.S. Patent No. 3,325,056.

(4) U.S. Patent No. 3,326,416.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 692,757, filed Dec. 22, 1967 and entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve.

Background This invention relates to small, hand-held pressurized dispensers such as are used for shaving cream and the like. The invention particularly involves a dispenser of the kind indicated, wherein several different liquids are stored and kept separate, these becoming mixed only at the valve means, during the dispensingy action.

' A prior dispenser of shaving lather, which effects a mixing of two separate liquids at the valve means to obtain a heating of the lather, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,326,416. One liquid suitable for such use ishydrogen peroxide; the other liquid can contain sodium hypophosphite. The reaction of these results in an exothermic nonexplosive decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, supplying heat to lathering ingredients whereby the dis'- charge comprises a heated, foam-forming mixture or lather. Potassium sulfite may be utilized, to react with the hydrogen peroxide, instead of the sodium hypophosphite.

Other mixing valve arrangements are shown in Patents 3,217,936, 3,272,389, and 3,325,056. While the prior devices were operative in most circumstances and enjoyed various degrees of success, the valves and dispensers as shown were either complicated and costly, ditlicult to manufacture, not fully reliable when in extended use, or else lacked convenience of operation. The valve arrangements had, as a rule, a multiplicity of parts which necessitated considerable tooling, inventories, and assembly labor. Where the movements were complicated, or depended on critical values of resilience there ensued unreliability of operation, malfunctioning, etc. If critical dimensions were involved, there was in addition the matter of added cost.

3,503,539 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 Summary The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior, mixing-type dispensers are obviated by the present invention, one object being to provide a novel and improved multiple-chamber dispenser and mixing valve therefor which is extremely simple and uncomplicated, having very few components characterized by simple, time-proved movements whereby there is achieved an especially low cost, and an improved and reliable performance.

This is accomplished by the provision of a molded plastic, tubular valve housing having internal axiallyspaced annular valve seats, one end portion of the housing being secured in the mounting cup or closure of the pressurized container and the other end portion carrying, communicating with, and being sealed to the neck of a flexible bag disposed in the container. One of the annular valve seats constitutes part of a slide valve mechanism. A longitudinally movable valve stem in the housing has a tubular projecting end portion through which the discharge passes, and has a valve shoulder at the base of the tubular portion, said shoulder being engageable with the other of the valve seats. Another portion of the stem slidingly engages the said one valve seat to close olf the same. Both seats are open when the valve stem is depressed, and for such condition flow occurs from the flexible bag axially through said other valve seat, and from the container area which is exterior to the bag, through a side wall passage of the valve housing into the latter to mix with the rst-mentioned flow. The mixture passes out of the housing through said one valve seat and through the tubular end portion of the stem. The stem shoulder is an effective seal when the stem is not depressed. The valving member, comprising poppet and slide valve portions, is a single, simple molded piece. Besides such piece there is only the valve housing, a simple spring, and a washer-like valve seat member making up the valve assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved mixing valve and dispenser as above set forth, wherein the desired discharge can be had with the container either inverted or else upright, depending on the particular construction provided inside the container, in connection with the side wall passage of the valve housing; wherein the likelihood of undesired leakage or mixing of the plurality of liquids is greatly minimized if not completely eliminated; and wherein only one of the valve devices, namely the poppet portion of the valve stem, is called on to withstand relatively high uni-directional pressures as effected in the container by the pressurized substance.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an axial sectional view of the simplified mixing valve and multiple-compartment dispenser as provided by the invention. The valve device is shown in the closed or non-dispensing condition.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional View like that of FIG. 1 but showing the dispenser inverted, with the valve in discharging position.

FIG. 3 is a view like that of FIG. 1 but showing another form of the invention, adapted for discharge with the container remaining upright.

FIG. 4 is a View like that of FIG. 2, showing the discharging condition of the dispenser.

As shown, the hand-held dispenser and mixing4 valve of the invention comprises a relatively rigid, metal outer container or can 10 of a usual type, having a top shoulder 12 and neck portion 14, the latter being spanned by a usual type of metal mounting cup 16. The cup 16 has a raised central portion 18 of inverted cup-like configuration, provided with a central opening 20 in its tranverse or top wall, the said opening having an Iupwardly drifted edge 22 and being of a size to slidably receive a vertical valve stem designated generally by the numeral 24.

Within the container and carried by the raised portion 18 of the mounting cup 16 thereof is a tubular molded plastic valve housing 26 having a stepped central bore 28, and having at its upper end an annular exterior mounting flange 30 which is snugly received in the portion 18 of the mounting cup, and is retained therein by inwardly offset portions 32 of the cup.

Clamped between the top wall 34 of the cup portion 18 and the upper end of the valve housing 26 is a resilient diaphragm or valve washer 36, having a central opening through which the valve stem 24 extends.

The upper portion of the valve stem 24 carries a usual type of depress button 38 having a discharge nozzle 40, said button being guided in a stationary body 42 attached to the upper portion of the container 10.

In accordance with the invention, the valve stem 24 and housing 26 with the valve washer or seat 36 are so constituted as to comprise a dual mixing valve including a positive shut-off poppet whereby, in conjunction with a flexible and collapsible bag or compartment provided in the container 10, there is effected in the housing a separation or else a mixing of two liquids, one from the container contents and the other from the enclosed compartment or bag.

Accordingly, there is provided a exible and collapsible compartment or bag 44 having a neck portion 46 which is secured around the lower portion of the valve housing 26 so that the bore of the latter communicates with the interior of the bag 44. Any suitable means may be ernployed to secure the bag 44 to the valve housing 26 in tight sealing relation therewith, as will be understood.

I have discovered that, contrary to what might be expected, the contents within the containers 44 and 10 can be effectively kept separated during non-use of the dispenser by means of a simple slide-type valve, whereby the dual-valve requirements of a dual-liquid dispenser of the kind illustrated herein can be filled by use of a simple, one-piece molded valve stem like the stern 24, thereby simplifying greatly the valving structures and reducing considerably the cost of the same. The combined poppet and slide-type valve as thus provided by the invention is constituted in the following manner:

Cooperable with the valve washer 36 is an annular exterior shoulder or poppet portion 48 provided intermediate the ends of the valve stem 24, said stem having an upper portion 50 of tubular configuration located above the shoulder 48, and having a side passage 52 in the wall of the portion 50, immediately adjacent the valve shoulder. A valve return spring 54 engages the shoulder 48 and also an interior annular shoulder 56 in the valve housing, thereby to bias the valve stem 24 upward as viewed in FIG. l, maintaining the shoulder 48 in engagement with the valve washer 36 whereby the valve is closed, preventing egress of the contents of the container 10 and bag 44.

Adjoining the shoulder 56 in the valve housing 26 is an annular valve seat or slide-valve portion in the form of an integral bead 58, which is engageable with a lower cylindrical slide valve or portion 60 of the valve stem 24, thereby to close off the bore of the valve housing at said point and prevent passage of liquid upward from the flexible bag 44.

The valve stem 24 has a side depression 62 located above the cylindrical slide valve portion 60 as seen in FIG. 1, which is adapted to be disposed within the annular valve seat or bead S8 when the valve stem is depressed or forced inward as illustrated in FIG. 2. For such position, the side passage 52 of the tubular portion `50 of the valve stem 24 will be disposed within the valve housing 26, and accordingly a passage is thus provided whereby the contents of the flexible bag I44 can be discharged upward through the housing 26, past the lower portion of the valve stem 24, inwardly through the side passage VS2 thereof and up through the tubular upper portion 50 of the stem, to be discharged from the nozzle portion 40 of the depress button 38.

The valve housing 26 also has a side passage 62x by which communication is established between the interior of the container 10 and the interior of the valve housing 26. Accordingly, when the valve stem 24 is depressed as illustrated in FIG. 2, the contents of the container 10 may also be discharged, such contents owing inward through the side passage 62x into the interior of the valve housing 26 and (at such location) mixing with the liquid which is tlowing upward from the flexible bag 44.

The mixture of these liquids will then pass through the side passage 52 of the valve stem, and upward through the tubular portion 50 to be discharged from the nozzle 40 of the depress button 38 as a mixture.

Where the dispensing device is intended to dispense a warm lather or foam, the flexible bag 44 may contain hydrogen peroxide. A lathering mixture may be provided in the container 10, made up of various ingredients. Such lathering mixture, in addition to Soaping, foaming and softening agents, may contain as an example sodium hypophosphite; or instead it may contain potassium suliite. Such substances, when mixing with the hydrogen peroxide flowing upward from the flexible bag 44, causes a chemical reaction which results in an exothermic non-explosive decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide whereby heat is produced and supplied to the mixture so that the discharge from the nozzle 40 of the depress button 38 is in the form of a heated foam or lather.

It will be understood that the contents of the container 10 may be pressurized by the addition of any suitable nonreactive, pressurizing agent, as for example a 40/ 60 mixture of dichlorouoromethane and symmetrical dichlorotetrauoroethane. Other propellant substances may be used, as well, their use being well known in the art.

Accordingly, the contents of the container 10 will effect a pressurizing of the same, and such pressure will be transmitted to the flexible bag 44, causing a collapsing action of the same and effecting an internal pressure to which the hydrogen peroxide in the bag is subjected. In consequence, when the valve stern 24 is depressed as illustrated in FIG. 2, the pressurized liquids in the container 10 and bag 44 will result in the contents thereof being discharged through the valve housing 26, `upper valve stem portion 50 and discharge nozzle 40.

It will be understood that for the non-discharging position of FIG. 1, the pressure within the container 10 will at all times be transmitted to the contents of the flexible bag 44, tending to discharge the contents of the same upward through the valve housing 26. Such pressure will be manifested at the underside of the annular valve seat 58, considering FIG. 1. However, a corresponding and opposite pressure will be manifested within the valve housing 26 in a downward direction against the valve seat 58, due to the communication which exists between the interior of the housing and the interior of the container 10.

Accordingly, the only valve device which is called upon to withstand the total pressure existing in the dispenser comprises the valve shoulder or poppet portion 48 of the valve stem, cooperating with the valve disk or washer 36. Due to the pressure equalization at the seat 58 I have found that, contrary to what might be expected, the simple slide-type valve comprising the stern portion 60 is wholly effective in keeping the two liquids of the dispenser completely separated for all practical purposes. Such arrangement is not only especially simple, but has been proved to be particularly effective and leakproof over a period of years.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that I have provided an especially simple yet effective dual or mixing valve arrangement in conjunction with a dispenser having multiple compartments containing liquids which are kept separate from each other and which mix Within the valve housing 26 upon the occasion of the valve stem 24 being held in the depressed position.

Relatively few parts are involved in the valving device, comprising essentially the molded housing 26, molded valve stern 24, valve return spring 54 and valve washer or disk 36. Inasmuch as the valve washer 36 is rigidly aitixed to the upper end of the Valve housing 26 it is considered as being a part of such valve housing, and in such connection the raised portion 18 of the mounting cup 16 may be considered as not only a supporting device for the valve housing, but also as a clamping device which permanently secures the valve disk 36 against the end of the valve housing.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. This form is in most respects similar to that already described in connection with FIGS. l and 2, and accordingly similar characters of reference have been used to designate similar parts. The form of the invention of FIGS. 3 and 4 differs in that means are provided to enable a discharge of the contents of the dispenser to be effected with the container held in an upright position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Structurally, the difference involves the provision of a dip or siphon tube which is connected to the side discharge opening of the valve housing, said tube extending downward and having its open end adjacent the bottom of the container 10.

As shown, the valve housing 26a is provided with an angularly and downwardly extending tubular itting 64 having a central passage 62a which opens into the interior or bore 28a of the valve housing. Fitted over the iitting `64 is a dip tube 66 which extends to a location closely adjacent the bottom wall of the container, as shown in FIG. 3. Otherwise, the valve housing 26a is similar to the housing 26, having a top rim portion 30a by which it is mounted in the cup 16, and having a valve seat portion 58a cooperable with the stem portion 60, and an internal shoulder 56a which is engaged by the valve return spring 54.

Operation is similar to that already described, except that the container is always kept in an upright position. As shown in FIG. 4, upon the application of finger pressure to the depress button 38, the valves will be opened and discharge will occur from the inner collapsible container 44 upward through the central bore of the valve housing 26a, and also from the dip tube 66 (which communicates with the interior of the container 10) upward through the passage 62a andthrough the side wall of the valve housing 26a. The mixture of the two liquids occurs upon the discharge being effected, and the heated mixture is shown as leaving the nozzle 40 in FIG. 4.

The valving arrangement which is shown involves a simple straight-line movement of the valve stern, said stem being fully guided against tilting, jamming, etc. whereby especially reliable operation is had. Normally, no leakage or seepage occurs past the valve seat 58 by virtue of the equal and opposite pressures existing above and below said seat. Therefore, the valve comprising the seat 58 and cylindrical portion 60 of the stern need not be especially tight or leakproof, but instead can utilize 6 Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A hand-held mixing-type dispenser comprising a dual valve construction, said construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a tubular valve housing having a pair of axially spaced apart annular valve portions concentric with the valve housing and through which liquid passes in flowing through the housing, said housing further having a passage through its side wall intermediate said valve portions,

(b) a valve stem axially slidable in the valve housing and passing through both valve portions, said stern having a tubular portion projecting from one end of the housing and through one of said annular valve portions, and having a rst valve means comprising an annular poppet valve engaged with said one valve portion to close the same,

(c) said tubular portion of the valve stem having a side passage adjacent the poppet valve of the stem, adapted to be disposed inside the housing when the stern is depressed, thereby to conduct liquid from the interior of the housing into the tubular stem portion,

(d) second valve means on the valve stem, comprising a slide valve portion slidable along the other of the annular valve portions, for blocking the iiow of liquid through said other portion when the poppet valve of the stem closses said one annular valve portion,

(e) said second valve means enabling liquid to pass into the valve housing through said second annular valve Portion when the side passage of the valve stem becomes disposed inside the valve housing as the stem is depressed,

(f) said valve stem having a side depression adjacent said second valve portion, which is disposed within the said valve portion when the valve stem is in its depressed position,

g) said second annular valve portion comprises an internal shoulder in the valve housing,

(h) a exible collapsible bag having a discharge, neck portion secured around the valve housing to discharge its contents at said second annular valve portion, and

(i) a rigid pressure-resistant container enclosing said bag and valve housing, said container having a neck portion secured to the valve housing at a location near the said one annular valve portion,

(j) said side passage of the valve housing being closely adjacent said neck portion of the container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,033,473 5/1962 Kitabayashi Z22-402.18 X 3,241,722 3/1966 Nissen 222--136 3,325,056 6/1967 Lewis 222-94 3,341,082 9/1967 Meshberg Z22- 402.18 X

`ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. Z22-402.1 

